Method and apparatus for arranging blanks into separate stacks



L. HEDBORG Aug. 2, 1966 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ARRANGING BLANKS INTO SEPARATE STACKS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 6, 1964 L. HEDBORG Aug. 2; 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 6, 1964 FIG.2

L. HEDBORG 3,263,993

SEPARATE STACKS Aug. 2, 1966 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ARRANGING BLANKS Filed April 6, 1964 INTO 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-3 L. HEDBORG Aug. 2, 1966 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ARRANGING BLANKS INTO SEPARATE STACKS Filed April 6. 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

' WW I FHA L. HEDBORG Aug. 2, 1966 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ARRANGING BLANKS INTO SEPARATE STACKS Filed April 6, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5' 1966 L. HEDBORG 3,263,993

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ARRANGING BLANKS INTO SEPARATE STACKS Filed April 6. 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent Office 3,263,993 Patented August 2, 1966 3,263,993 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ARRANGING BLANKS INTO SEPARATE STACKS Lennart Hedborg, Grarnmont, Belgium, assignor to Aktlebolaget Siefvert & Fornander, Kalmar, Sweden Filed Apr. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 357,452 Claims priority, application Sweden, Apr. 24, 1963, 4,465/63 6 Claims. (Cl. 27164) This invention relates primarily to a method in arranging a great number of blanks which have been cut out group-wise, without interspaces between adjacent blanks of each group, from a series of sheets or the like, in a plurality of stacks corresponding in number to the number of blanks per group. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out this method and comprising knives or the like for separating a series of sheets or the like into groups of blanks occurring in close proximity to each other, and means for advancing the blanks in substantially parallel alignment with each other.

The invention is primarily intended to be utilized in the cutting and sorting of envelopes or covers for bookmatches, but its bearing is, of course, not restricted theret0.

In the past such covers have been obtained by separating or cutting larger cardboard sheets, on which a plurality of covers have been printed in close juxtaposition to each other, into a plurality of blanks corresponding in number to the number of covers per sheet. Since any lateral interspaces between the individual covers exist neither when they form the complete sheet which is printed in its entirety, nor after its cutting into blanks, it has up till now been very difficult or almost impossible to collect the blanks which have been cut or stamped out from a series of successive sheets, in separate stacks. Such a dividing up into individual stacks each corresponding to a position on the sheet requires that the stacks are separated from each other by partitions located between adjacent stacks, but on account of the above conditions of space, it has hitherto not been possible to introduce such partitions.

As a consequence hereof, the blanks or covers obtained by the cutting of the sheets have been fed out from the cutting machine unarranged and have been collected more or less pellmell in containers or the like. Consequently, extensive manual labour has been required for the sorting and aligning of the covers, since they always have to be introduced into the book-match assembly machine pointing in one and the same direction.

The principal object of the invention is to eliminate the above drawbacks and to minimize the manual handling of the blanks or covers.

Another and related object is to reduce the necessary supervision of a cutting machine of the kind in question and to permit the withdrawal of the covers in separate, discrete stacks while the machine is running.

With these and other objects in view the blanks of each group which are advanced substantially parallel to each other are individually rotated on axes substantially parallel to the feed direction of the blanks, after which the blanks of each group are separated from each other by feeding all blanks having occupied one and the same position on its respective sheet into a separate channel or box, individual to its respective stack thus formed and extending substantially parallel to the channels of adjacent stacks from which it is separated by thin partitions arranged in the interspaces created by the rotation of the blanks.

In accordance herewith an apparatus for arranging blanks in separate stacks is, according to the invention,

primarily characterized by the provision of means for rotating the blanks of each group on axes which are substantially parallel to mutually corresponding edges of the individual blanks of the respective groups in such a manner that interspaces of substantially the same width arise between adjacent blanks on account of the rotations, and a plurality of boxes or channels, corresponding in number to the number of blanks of one group, for receiving the blanks of the respective groups and having as well partitions, which are located in the interspaces formed by the rotation of the blanks and separate the blanks of one group from each other, as rear walls, the fronts of which facing the blanks form acute and obtuse angles respectively with the partitions of the respective channels.

Further features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings which diagrammatically and as a nonlimiting example illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a simplified side-view of part of a cutting machine which is provided with a sorting apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section on a larger scale on line III-III in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are partial sections on lines IV-IV and V-V, respectively in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a partial section corresponding to FIG. 3 and showing some parts in a different position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective fractional view.

The machine illustrated only in part in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 comprises a framework 1, a driving motor 2 suspended the framework, a main drive shaft 3 rotatably journalled in the framework and driven by the motor 2 through pulleys 4 and 5, and belts 6 interconnecting them. The shaft 3 carries a lower set of circular knives 8 cooperating with corresponding knives 9 on an upper knife shaft 10 driven by the shaft 3. Sheets 11 to be cut (FIG. 2) are transferred rectilinearly from a hopper (not shown), by means of dogs 12 which are attached to endless chains 13, to a pair of feeding in rollers 15 advancing the sheets between the pairs of knives 8, 9 which cut them into blanks 25a (FIG. 7).

The blanks thus cut out are compulsorily advanced by a pair of driven feed rollers 17 (see also FIG. 3) which forward the blanks, under an arcuate guide plate 18, to a pair of rubber lined feeding out rollers 19 which are pressed against each other with a constant pressure by means of springs or the like. All pairs of rollers 15, 17, 19 are rotated with the same circumferential speed. The rollers 17, 19 are provided with circumferential grooves 14 (FIG. 7) opposite to the knives 8, 9 and the longitudinal edges of the blanks. The object hereof is to reduce, to the greatest possible extent, any interferences or disturbances in the relative positions of the blanks. As is evident from FIGS. 1 and 3, the concave lower face of the plate 18, and the feeding out rollers 19 impart a descending motion to the blanks, so that the next step or phase of their advancement may be performed solely under the influence of gravity.

While being advanced by the feeding out rollers 19 (LFIG. 7), all blanks 25:: are individually rotated independently of each other on axes which are substantially parallel to the general direction of travel by, firstly, a set of depressing or holding down wires 20 (FIGS. 34 and 7) which are secured to a common rod 21, and, secondly, a set of lifting wires 22 which are inserted in the face of the rear wall 26 (FIGS. 4-5) with sawtooth section, of a compartment shelf which is generally designated 27 and operate to diminish the contact surface and the friction between the blanks 25a and the face of the rear wall. The rotation or turning of the blanks is accomplished in that the holding down wires 20 press against the right-hand longitudinal edge (as seen in the direction of travel of the blanks in FIG. 7) of the front side of the blanks which is directed towards the right in FIGS. 3-5, at the same time as the lifting wires 22 press against the left-hand, (as seen in the direction of travel of the blanks in FIG. 7) longitudinal edge of the rear side of the blanks which side is directed towards the left in FIGS. 3-5. Thanks to this rotation or turning of the individual blanks, interspaces of such a width are formed between them, that partitions 28 of thin sheet metal or the like may be arranged between adjacent paths of travel of the blanks.

The partitions 2'8 separating the individual boxes or compartments 23 of the compartment shelf 27 from each other are secured to the vertical faces of the sawtooth portions of the rear wall 26 and operate to separate the individual blanks 25a into discrete, well-defined stacks 25, each corresponding to a definite position on the initial sheets 11 (FIG. 1).

The blanks are conducted into their respective compartments by guide plates 24 forming upwards directed, rear continuations of the partitions 28 and are somewhat deflected outwards at their upper end, as is evident from FIG. 2. The bottom 29 of the compartment shelf 27 (FIG. 3) is rounded and has a convex upper face and continues in a table 30 which carries the stacks 25 obtained by the cutting of the sheets 11.

After the blanks 25a while being rotated on an axis parallel to their direction of travel have fallen down onto the bottom 29 of the compartment shelf 27 they are advanced, edgewise and in an upright position, substantially perpendicularly to their direction of fall. This advancement takes place in a direction which forms an angle differing from 90 with the plane of the blanks and is carried out by a set of movable pistons 31 which reciprocate in openings 32 (FIG. in the rear wall 26. The pistons 31 are secured to the upper, central web portion of a U-shaped yoke 33 having downwards extending flanges which are rockable on stub shafts 36 by means of bearing lugs 35. At the corners between the shanks or flanges and the central web portion the U-shaped piston carrying yoke 33 is provided with adjustable abutment screws 37 cooperating with stationary stops 38 which de fine the initial position of the pistons 31 in which they are entirely retracted into the openings 32. The effective strokes of the pistons 31 during which the yoke 33 is swung in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 6 on the stub shafts 36 is carried out in that a pair of rods 39 are pulled towards the left, as indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 6. The right-hand end of each rod 39 is hingedly connected to one arm 40a of a bell crank lever 40a, 40b, which is rotatable on a stationary stub shaft 41 and the other arm 40b of which, which is rotated counter-clockwise in the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 6 at the movement of the rod 39 in the direction of the arrow B, is provided with an adjustable abutment screw 42 which hereby strikes the yoke 33 and displaces it and the pistons 31. At the effective stroke during which they move towards the right in FIGS. 3 and 6 the pistons 31 push the blanks of the latest group which have just fallen down into the compartments 23 and are standing erect edgewise on the bottom 29, before them on it past dogs or tongues 44 which are each located between a guide plate 24 and a partition 28. Guide plates 24, tongues 44 and partitions 28 are preferably different parts of one and the same (sheet metal) plate. 'The purpose of the tongues 44 is to prevent the blanks latest advanced and standing last in the stacks 25 from sliding back into contact with the rear wall 26 of the compartments 23 at the return stroke of the pistons 31 during which the yoke 33, the bell-crank arm 40b and rod 39 move in the opposite direction with respect to their travel during the working stroke, as is indicated by the arrows D, E and F respectively in FIG. 3.

The embodiment described above and shown in the drawings is, of course, to be regarded merely as nonlimiting examples and may as to their details be modified in several ways within the scope of the following claims.

.What I claim is:

1. A method in arranging blanks into separate stacks, comprising the steps of cutting each one of a series of sheets into a group of blanks, without interspaces between adjacent blanks of each sheet, advancing the blanks of each group substantially parallel to each other, rotating said blanks of each group individually on axes substan- Itially parallel to the feed direction of said blanks, thereby creating interspaces between adjacent blanks of each group, dividing said blanks thus cut, into stacks corresponding in number to the number of blanks per group, from each other by feeding all blanks having occupied one and the same position on its respective sheet into a separate channel, individual to its respective stack thus formed and extending substantially parallel to the channels of adjacent stacks from which is it separated by thin partitions arranged in the interspaces created by the rotation of the blanks.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, in which the individual blanks after having been rotated are advanced in a direction which is substantially the same for all blanks and forms an angle differing from with those planes in which the blanks lie after their rotation, while resting on one of their edges.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1, in which gravity is utilized for the feeding of the blanks into their respective channels.

4. Apparatus for arranging blanks in separate stacks, comprising knives or the like for separating a series of sheets or the like into groups of blanks occurring in close proximity to each other, means for advancing the blanks in substantially parallel alignment with each other, means for rotating the blanks of each group on axes which are substantially parallel to mutually corresponding edges of the individual blanks of the respective groups in such a manner, that interspaces of substantially the same width arise between adjacent blanks on account of the rotations, and a plurality of boxes or channels, corresponding in number to the number of blanks of one group, for receiving the blank-s of the respective groups and having as well partitions, which are located in the interspaces formed by the rotation of the blanks and separate the blanks of one group from each other, as rear walls, the fronts of which facing the blanks form acute and obtuse angles respectively with the partitions of the respective channels.

'5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, comprising reciprocable feeding means which are adapted to advance the blanks groupwise and resting on that one of their edges, which extends transversely with respect to the channels, in a direction which is substantially parallel to the partitions of the channels.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, comprising detent means adapted to prevent the blanks advanced by the feeding means from following the feeding means in their return movement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,792,623 2/1931 Willsea 271-64 X 2,879,991 3/1959 P-itner 2705 8 3,009,695 11/ 1961 Parsh 270-58 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. 

1. A METHOD IN ARRANGING BLANKS INTO SEPARATE STACKS, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF CUTTING EACH ONE OF A SERIES OF SHEETS INTO A GROUP OF BLANKS, WITHOUT INTERSPACES BETWEEN ADJACENT BLANKS OF EACH SHEET, ADVANCING THE BLANKS OF EACH GROUP SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, ROTATING SAID BLANKS TO EACH GROUP INDIVIDUALLY ON AXES, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE FEED DIRECTION OF SAID BLANKS, THEREBY CREATING INTERSPACES BETWEEN ADJACENT BLANKS OF EACH GROUP, DIVIDING SAID BLANKS THUS CUT, INTO STACKS CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER TO THE NUMBER OF BLANKS PER GROUP, FROM EACH OTHER BY FEEDING ALL BLANKS HAVIN OCCUPIED ONE AND THE SAME POSITION ON ITS RESPECTIVE SHEET INTO A SEPARATE CHANNEL, INDIVIDUAL TO ITS RESPECTIVE STACK THUS 